Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) medical investigations conducted on jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim have revealed that he is suffering from asthma, his lawyer Sankara Nair told malaysiakini today.

Anwar was warded at the hospital last Friday where he was diagnosed as having "baseline pneumonia" of the right lung. Further tests have since found that he has asthma as well.

Sankara, who said he had just been informed of the results, described Anwar's condition as "quite serious".

The bout of pneumonia has been blamed on "cold and damp" cell conditions at the Sungai Buloh prison where Anwar is serving out a 15-year sentence for abuse of power and sodomy. He claims the charges were fabricated by former mentor and Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to oust him from power, though Mahathir has denied this.

The Prisons Department public relations officer was not available for comment today as he was on leave.

Letter to hospital

Sankara said the medical officer at the prison should have advised the authorities to ensure the good health of his client, especially considering the location of the cell. Anwar is being held in a building that also houses the prison clinic.

"Since his cell has been exposed to the cold wind during the recent rainy spell, the medical officer in charge should have been more sensitive to his health needs. If the officer had given the prison authorities proper advice, these complications could have been avoided," said Sankara.

He said he would send a letter to HKL tomorrow seeking an explanation for the failure of its medical officer to advise the prison authorities on precautions that could have been taken.

Sankara also said Anwar's family were "very upset" to hear the latest development as they fear that his health could worsen.

Local offer rejected

Last week, Anwar, 56, was in the headlines when he refused surgery under local doctors for a chronic back problem.

His wife and Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail told malaysiakini that he had rejected the offer to undergo disc replacement surgery by a team of local experts.

After consulting family members and several specialists, it was decided that the operation would be risky as Anwar would be under general anaesthetic.

She added that her husband was willing to endure the pain until the government permitted him to seek treatment abroad.

Anwar's previous application to have an endoscopic surgery done in Germany by specialist Dr Thomas Hoogland was turned down by the authorities.

According to Wan Azizah, endoscopic surgery entails minimal surgical procedures and can be performed under local anesthesia.

Anwar, who was sacked from his government and party positions in 1998, hurt his back during a horse riding incident several years ago. He claimed that his back condition was worsened by an assault while under policy custody in September 1998.